Breaking News: ABC Launches Live Linear Streaming

Marking a first for a broadcast network, today ABC announced the launch of its "Watch ABC" app to allow pay-tv subscribers access to live, linear streaming of viewers’ local ABC station programming, including network, local and syndicated content. The service will launch first as a free preview on May 14 and will be available to all viewers through a special open access preview with WABC-TV (NYC) and WPVI (Philly) through the end of June. In their press release they state that the app will roll out in the other six ABC-owned station markets this summer.  MORE: Multichannel News 5/12/13 - ABC Sets Live Streaming Service Launch

SlingBerry?

I must admit I was jealous when one of my client's IT guys showed me his Motorola Q connected to his Slingbox several months ago. The picture quality and smoothness of the connection was amazing. He could playback any channel or DVR recording available on his home cable box and he could not only view them but could setup programs to record. For us road warriors with a crackberry habit, this wasn't something available however today all that changed as Sling Media announced that it is extending the mobile version of its service to Blackberry smartphones. The new version which will be released later this year, will cost Slingbox customers a one-time charge of $29.99. In my perspective this is how I would utilize mobile TV while getting better value out of my monthly investment with my cable provider. Although the viewership of mobile TV is on the rise, I firmly believe most consumers will not adapt to it if it requires yet another monthly subscription and higher phone bill. For now the gatekeepers are the telecommunication providers however with companies like Sling Media I think the business model is about to change and will be monetized finally by advertising and not subscriptions.

More Marketers Mulling Mobile Messages

A growing number of advertisers are looking at ways to make cell phone advertising more acceptable to consumers. At stake, according to a study by Gartner, is a virtually untapped ad-revenue bonanza that could swell to $14.6 billion by 2011. Link: SFGate.com September 10, 2007 - Advertisers, service providers take aim at mobile phone users

Mobile TV Is Like Sushi: Report

The Vienna-based Institut der WU has issued a report which claims that consumers will not be able to resist mobile TV, and compared it to sushi. “According to the study, mobile TV is a trend, which - like sushi - is first met with resistance and sceptism, but once accepted very addictive. “One must have experienced mobile TV in your own hands to realise you can’t live without it” reports Broadband TV News. The study spoke to 52 experts and 232 consumers in Austria, Germany and Italy, and more than 53 percent of the respondents said they could imagine watching TV on their mobile up to 30 minutes a day.

Nielsen Follows Viewers with Purchase of Telephia

The Nielsen Company announced the purchase of Telephia, for an undisclosed sum, this greatly expands the media measurement giant's wireless capabilities. The San Francisco-based Telephia Inc. provides syndicated consumer research to the telecom and mobile media markets. The acquisition provides Nielsen with a much needed entry into measurement services for the estimated 350 billion bucks mobile sector, where telecom and media are quickly converging. Nielsen said adding Telephia expands its ability to measure the rapidly expanding mobile content delivery industry, where today there are more than 232 million wireless subscribers in the US. "As media content increasingly moves from television to the personal computer to the 'third screen' of the mobile device, it is essential that we measure all platforms," said Susan Whiting Executive Vice President of The Nielsen Company.

Go Mobile - Get Food Faster

Mobile phone applications and internet access are improving consumers ability to seach out information and save time from daily routines today more than ever. Mobo, launched in May 2006, lets NYC (beta test) customers order from restaurants and pay for meals using sms.

How it works? Customers create an account, which includes their credit card details. After signing up for the service, they can order online via www.gomobo.com, or by text message/sms. The order appears on the restaurant's in-store Mobo system, and is automatically billed to the customer's credit card. The restaurant confirms the order, and the customer receives a text message stating when the order will be ready for pick up. Each affiliated restaurant has a separate Mobo Pick Up counter, so Mobo users can walk straight to the counter, state their name and last four digits of their phone number, and pick up their food.

According to Mobo, the benefits for partnering restaurants are increased profits from new Mobo customers, higher average order amounts, increased customer loyalty and improved operating efficiency. Customers save time (which IS the new currency), get a bit of that oh so coveted VIP treatment with their takeaways, and vendors increase profits. I see this as being a viable platform to add sponsorship elements to! UPDATE: September 20, 2006 I ran across this in the Wall Street Journal - Text Messaging Speeds Up Fast-Food Orders